New Wake student assignment plan in works

A new student assignment plan in Wake County is in the works.The plan is being developed by a Massachusetts consultant who will eventually present it to the board.

The consultant, Michael Alves, says the plan is still being developed, but a group of people got a chance to see an interim report presented during a Garner Chamber of Commerce meeting on Wednesday.

The plan is being developed around four main principles --choice, stability, proximity and student achievement-- and it looks like it would divide the district into areas, considering demographics and student achievement.

Wake County School Board Member John Tedesco was in attendance for the presentation and says what he saw was about 90 percent similar to what he's been pushing all along.

"I said the old model was terrible, it wasn't working, it was falling apart," Tedesco said. "He says well it clearly wasn't working in the face of X,Y,Z anymore, but it did great in its time. Well that sounds a little better for the people who like the old model."

The difference in presentation styles is why Tedesco says he feels the plan might be better received by those who support the socio-economic diversity policy.

The Wake Education Partnership and the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce are commissioning the plan.

Alves is expected to present a detailed plan to the school board before the end of the year.